Happy First Contact day, fellow nerds! The future Star Trek holiday, which takes place on April 5, 2063, is the day that human inventor Zephram Cochrane made his first warp speed flight on his ship, the Phoenix. During flight he drew the attention of the Vulcans, which led to humanity’s first contact with an alien race. This led to Earth joining the greater galactic community and the creation of the United Federation of Planets.

The date was chosen by writer Ronald D. Moore, who picked his son Jonathan’s birthday as the special day. First Contact Day is all the more poignant at this very moment in human history, as we battle a global pandemic. Cochrane’s contact with the Vulcans eventually pushed humanity to greatness, leading to the end of poverty, war, and injustice on Earth. By joining the greater universe and building community, humanity became better.

And while we should eschew actual human contact (6 feet away, masks up) we can still enjoy and celebrate our humanity and the enduring spirit of our species. And it’s another reminder to rise to our best selves on this particular occasion. Be kind, be thoughtful, and be compassionate.

We can all perform simple acts of everyday heroism by not hoarding resources, by checking in on our friends and family, by reaching out to those we love. It’s a scary time, but we’re all in this together. Many took to social media to celebrate First Contact Day:

Today is April 5th, which means it's #FirstContactDay!

The day in Star Trek mythology that humanity, at its lowest point (and a time-displaced Picard at his most bitterly disillusioned) took the silly risk of being optimistic, and everything changed.

It gives me feelings. pic.twitter.com/DHXimg9ou6

— Anthony Oliveira (@meakoopa) April 5, 2020

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Today the Humans and Vulcans made their first contact (April 5, 2063). Take a look at a photo director @trailingjohnson's photo from the first day of the #StarTrekBeyond shoot. Happy #FirstContactDay! #JustinLin

A post shared by Skydance (@skydance) on Apr 5, 2016 at 4:25pm PDT

Captain's log, stardate 73726.8. We have beamed down onto an M-class planet for shore leave. There seem to be signs of civilisation but the streets are empty and the businesses closed.

Happy #FirstContactDay from me and my Dad! pic.twitter.com/ecXf4Avlwq

— Toby (@tobyjamez) April 5, 2020

Instead of First Contact Day, we get this

#StarTrek #FirstContactDay pic.twitter.com/NGjUYpYggP

— Captain Edward Jellico (@STDeltaShift) April 5, 2020

Happy #FirstContactDay!

In these uncertain times it is paramount to hold onto the belief that we are better together, whether on Earth or amongst the galaxy, as nearly 54 years of @StarTrek has taught us.

Now is the time for compassion first. We’ll work on warp speed later 🖖 pic.twitter.com/rfotvjXkBb

— ⚔️🖤Heather Rae @🏠🖖🏼 #StayHomeSaveLives (@BatlethBabe) April 5, 2020

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#tbt for #FirstContactDay!🖖🏻 'Cause Data always cheers me up and I certainly needed that 💛 Not that anyone cares on this kind of post but I'll repost the list of products too. . 🇪🇸 foto de mi cosplay de Data del año pasado para celebrar el 5 de abril, First Contact Day, por la película de Star Trek en la que los vulcanos visitan por primera vez la Tierra! 🛸 Me he fijado que cuando me pongo friki os pierdo a muchos pero qué se le va a hacer, una es así 😅 os dejo los detalles de todos modos por si acaso: . @katvondbeauty Lock-it foundation in 42 Lock-it concealer creme in L1 Shade and light eye contour palette Metal crush in Thunderstruck Tattoo liner in Trooper Better Together palette Everlasting liquid lipstick in Witches and Santa Sangre Ink liner in Neruda @nyxcosmetics_es Matte liquid liner Brow mascara in black @urbandecaycosmetics perversion pencil Moondust palette @toofaced better than sex waterproof mascara Soul mates bronzer blush duo in Ross & Rachel @meltcosmetics gun metal stack @anastasiabeverlyhills Modern Renaissance palette Dip brow in granite @thebalm_cosmetics Mary-lou manizer @lunatick_cosmetic_labs contour book @makeuprevolution vivid baked highlighter @kikomilano intense colour eyeliner in 02 @necromancycosmetica Ancient Queen on the lips . #cosplay #film #firstcontact #startrek #data #femdata #brentspiner #datacosplay #thenextgeneration #tng #startrektng #startrekcosplay #katvondbeauty #kvdlook #makeuprevolution #nyxcosmetics #nyxcosmetics_es #anastasiabeverlyhills #meltcosmetics #meltgunmetal #contour #lunatickcosmeticlabs #necromancycosmetica #modernrenaissance #urbandecay #udspain

A post shared by Bex Lecter (@bexlecter) on Apr 5, 2018 at 5:46pm PDT

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"Someone once said, 'Don't try to be a great man. Just be a man, and let history make its own judgments.'" "That's rhetorical nonsense. Who said that?" "You did, ten years from now." – Riker and Zefram Cochrane #startrekfirstcontact Happy First Contact Day! Enjoy this awkward #selfie that I tried to set up to look like a transporter effect 😜 #firstcontact #firstcontactday #april5 #startrekcosplay #redminidress #startrekoriginalseries #minidress #sttos #yeomanbinkley #originalcharacter #cosplayer #cosplayersofinstagram #startrek #trekkie #redshirt #cosplay #diycosplay #fairylights #sewersofinstagram #diydress #feminist #makeyourownmagic #instasize #speck #happyfriday #extrapost #friyay #instalike

A post shared by That KTB Cosplay Girl (@thatktbcosplaygirl) on Apr 5, 2019 at 9:40am PDT

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Happy #FirstContactDay! @therealsonequa is taking a look back at her First Contact with #StarTrek 🖖 Do you remember your #FirstContact with the #StarTrekUniverse? Link in bio for full video! #StarTrekDiscovery . 🎥: @startrek

A post shared by CBS TV Studios (@cbstvstudios) on Apr 5, 2020 at 9:26am PDT

Captain’s Log: Stardate 19: I posted this yesterday in the @starwars subreddit on @reddit in honor of @StarTrek’s #FirstContactDay today. I wanted to show them that, like her husband who shot first; Leia made first contact. 😏😘 It was a match made in 😳🤔🤷🏼‍♂️🤣. #missyouCarrie pic.twitter.com/ppxZG1N5R5

— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) April 5, 2020

‘Resistance is futile’

Happy First Contact Day and happiest of birthdays to my sister! Here’s my sister and brother-in-laws first attempt a borg cake with a Enterprise pizza cutter🖖🏻🍕 #firstcontact #FirstContactDay #startrek pic.twitter.com/FI81VkLARS

— quinnnyyy⁷ (@QUINC1D3NCE) April 5, 2020

Today is #FirstContactDay. However, to me, every day is First Contact Day because every day I imagine establishing first contact with Jean-Luc. 😏 pic.twitter.com/soLMwlEu9c

— Alexander 🏳️‍🌈 (@Mr_Picard) April 5, 2020

That feeling you get when it’s #FirstContactDay, but not officially for another 43 years… pic.twitter.com/kZHF9pAoIR

— Matt (ThomasandMatt) (@SiFsBartender) April 5, 2020

Star Trek: First Contact is available on Amazon Prime, and the good folks at StarTrek.com are holding a virtual tweet-a-long with the film at 12pm PST.

April 5th marks #FirstContactDay as well as the perfect day to watch Star Trek: First Contact! Join us Sunday at 12pm PT as we watch and share our favorite moments from the movie🖖 #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/osmkhtUu1R

— Star Trek (@StarTrek) April 3, 2020

Live long and prosper, friends.

(image: Paramount Pictures)

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